This is a trap most people will fall for and be able to relate to as well.
In the pursuit of any worthy endeavor, we always tend to look for that ONE knockout punch, that ONE home run shot, where we can just do that ONE thing and accomplish our objective.
The efficiency of it is what lures us in.
But the hidden trap people will always fall into is this:
While looking for that one “home run shot”, they neglect to consistently apply the small strategies that will also help them to accomplish their objective.
That’s where all the work is done and most likely, there’s where you find the path TO that one knockout punch, that one home run shot.
Here’s a simple example to illustrate.
Six pack abs is something some people would love to have.
But they don’t want to do what’s necessary to do it.
They want to look for that one “the home run shot” – whether it’s take this magic pill and you’ll get your six pack or wear this lap band on your waist while you watch TV and watch it give you a six pack.
All futile attempts as we all know.
But what if instead of looking for and pursuing that one home run shot, a person consistently applied some small strategies to help them get to their objective.
What if they walked for 30 minutes a day, did 1 hour of fun cardio (kickboxing, dance, boxing, etc), and kept a sensible low fat diet?.
If they applied those small strategies, they would be able to reduce their body fat, hence making their “six pack” visible as they got rid of the fat covering it up in the first place.
But people don’t do that.
They don’t like applying small strategies consistently.
They like to look for the home run shot and rationalize it by saying the time and effort spent to find it is worth it because all they have to do is hit it.
The problem is that it will take them a long, long time to find it (if it even exists) and even if they do find it, it may not be enough.
They could’ve spent all that time and energy on applying small strategies consistently and making REAL progress.
It’s also one of the main reasons why people don’t apply the advice they hear all the time – write down your goals, take action, save 10% of your income – if they did that consistently, you’re going to see a HUGE difference between someone who ignores all that and spends ALL their time and effort looking for that ONE home run shot rather than apply all the small strategies consistently.
There’s another reason that exacerbates this kind of behavior.
Companies know that people inherently look for the easy way out, that home run shot, so they base their marketing on that accordingly.
And people fall for it.
When one home run shot doesn’t work, they move on to the next on and the next, never really making any tangible REAL progress.
Contrast that with what REALLY works – what people don’t want to hear – the consistent application of small strategies and you’ll see the difference.
Imagine a baseball game where each and every player at bat tried to hit a home run.
They swing for the fences on every pitch.
The result wouldn’t be very pretty.
Maybe you would hit one home run once in a while, but nothing really consistent.
After a while, after seeing no results, it’s easy for the team to get dejected, to not even try.
But what if you got some singles in, some doubles, and the bases got loaded?
Even though you hit a single, you score a run.
And can you imagine if you hit a home run then?
You get 4 runs instead of just 1 had you hit it with no bases loaded.
The EXACT same home run hit, yet two vastly different results – all because one team consistently did all the small strategies while looking for the big home run shot while the other team just solely looked for the big home run shot.
There’s another side to the consistent application of small strategies that most people don’t see too – the momentum shifts in your favor. The other team gets nervous when all the bases are loaded, there’s electricity and excitement in the air – the possibility of hitting a grand slam becomes palpable, it’s within your grasp and in essence, the odds begin to stack in your favor WHEN you take the time to apply the small strategies consistently.
Don’t get caught up in looking for the home run to the point where that’s where you spend all your time.
Consistently apply the small strategies that will help you get to your goal – that’s what works and that’s what will help you find the “home run shot” and to hit it.
And when you do, it will make the results THAT MUCH sweeter.
